Underground Alcohol Production Uncovered in Kazakhstan

The Agency for Financial Monitoring is investigating the activities of the management of LLP "BM" and related companies. According to the investigation, under the leadership of Sultan Makhmadov, a criminal group operated there, organizing an underground production of ethyl alcohol, reports Orda.kz.

Without a license, they set up production, storage, transportation, and sale of alcohol, disguising the business as the production of bioethanol and feed additives. In reality, an underground alcohol plant operated on the premises, with a distribution network covering the Jambyl and East Kazakhstan regions, as well as Shymkent. From this alcohol, surrogate liquor dangerous to life and health was made in illegal workshops.

Makhmadov had already been convicted for similar crimes in 2010. This time, 122,000 liters of alcohol worth more than 280 million tenge were seized from him. At the site, 18 units of mining equipment and seven vehicles were also found and seized.

The organizer was arrested for two months. The investigation continues. 

Last year, a resident of Shymkent set up mass production of counterfeit vodka. An underground workshop was discovered at his place, where alcohol was produced under well-known brands such as Absolut, "Zelyonaya Marka," and Qulan.

Original Author: Natalia Ovchinnikova